Special Service and Features
NIT Tiruchirappalli conducts Online Translation Training Programme
National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the National Translation Mission , Government of India, and Tamil Nadu Text Book and Educational Services Corporation  organises a one-week Online Translation Training Programme titled 'Text and Context in Translation, that was inaugurated on 18 July 2022. The programme began with the welcome address by the programme Convener Dr. V.K. Karthika and the presentation of the concept note by the co-convener Dr. Tariq Khan .
Prof. G. Aghila, the Director, NIT Tiruchirappalli, delivered the presidential address and spoke about the relevance of the translation workshop linking it with the NEP 2020. She stated that translation training programmes of this magnitude is the need of the hour and emphasised the importance of translation by pointing out the requirement to make knowledge texts available in regional languages so that accessibility to information becomes inclusive. She congratulated the convener Dr. V.K. Karthika and co-conveners Prof. R. Joseph Ponniah and Dr. Tariq Khan for co-ordinating the programme and assembling a great panel of eminent speakers.
The Chief Guest, Sri. Prince Rama Varma, a member of the Royal Family of Travancore, a well-known musician, writer and translator inaugurated the programme. In his inaugural address, he spoke about the significance of translation in providing access to great literature and ancient wisdom by elucidating the curious connection between music, translation and culture.
Prof.Shailendra Mohan, the Director of Central Institute of Indian Languages  Mysuru, offered felicitations. Ms. R. Gajalakshmi, IAS, the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Text Book and Educational Services Corporation , Dr.S. Kannappan, Member Secretary of TNTB&ESC, Dr. M. Shankara Saravanan Joint Director TNTB&ESC and Prof.V.N Rajasekharan Pillai, the former UGC Chairman were present.
Prof. Muthukumaran, Dean R&C NIT Trichy offered felicitations. Prof. R. Joseph Ponniah,the co-convenor delivered the vote of thanks and concluded the inaugural ceremony which was followed by sessions by Prof. K. Narayana Chandran, Institution of Eminence Research Chair in Literary and Cultural Theory, University of Hyderabad and by Githa Hariharan the renowned author and literary critic.
Ms R. Gajalakshmi, IAS, the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Text Book and Educational Services Corporation  inaugurated the second day’s panel discussion by highlighting the Chief Minister’s endeavours in restoring the ancient wisdom embedded in Tamil texts that are being lost. She briefed the Tamil Nadu Government’s earnest initiatives in undertaking the project ‘Taking Tamil to the World: Transcending Boundaries. She along with Dr S. Kannappan , Dr M. Shankara Saravanan , and Ms. Mini Krishnan  discussed the relevance of translation in discovering, preserving, archiving and thereby revitalizing the ancient Tamil literature.
The second-panel discussion led by Ms. Mini Krishnan engaged the prominent translators in the field- Justice Prabha Sridevan , Ms. Malini Seshadri, Ms. Vasantha Surya, Ms. G. Geetha, Mr. V. Ramakrishna, Mr. Darun, and Mr. Arun. The renowned translator Prof. Catherine Thankamma handled the third session and her enlightening talk discussed the intricacies involved in Dalit literature in translation.
On the third day, on 20 July 2022, Prof. K.M. Sheriff, a well-known translator and critic, from the University of Calicut spoke on issues and concerns regarding copyright. Prof. Sushanth Kumar Mishra of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi  an eminent author, translator and literary critic talked about the underlying issues in text and context in translation.
In the forthcoming days Prof. GJV Prasad , Prof. V.B. Tharakeshwar , Prof. Vanamala Viswanatha , Prof. Tejaswini Niranjana , Prof. J. Devika  and Prof. K. Srilatha  will lead the sessions and discussions.
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